What happened to Patrick Cannon, former Charlotte mayor: A timeline
Before being arrested in an FBI sting operation, Patrick Cannon was a longtime local Democratic politician in Charlotte. He was ultimately forced to resign as mayor after being arrested for taking bribes from FBI agents posing as Charlotte business owners, in exchange for help related to city government matters.
He recently filed for office and is a candidate for Charlotte City Council in the 2022 election. Cannon pleaded guilty in 2014.
What happened to Patrick Cannon?
Here’s a timeline of what unfolded:
As early as 2010: The FBI’s involvement and investigation lasted years, beginning with his time as a City Council member. Federal officials say they got a tip about Cannon taking bribes and began an undercover investigation.
Early 2013: FBI agents posing as commercial real estate investors began offering money, trips and other benefits to Cannon — bribes investigators say he took and in exchange said he would help the company advance its business interests in Charlotte.
November 2013: Cannon won his bid to be the 56th mayor of Charlotte.
February 2014: In the bribery scheme, Cannon accepted $20,000 in cash inside the mayor’s office.
March 26, 2014: Cannon was arrested and resigns.
June 2014: He pleaded guilty to public corruption charges.
July 2014: The Charlotte Observer reported on a strip club owner’s ties to Cannon, as well as Cannon’s parking company, and access to city officials while trying to expand Uptown Cabaret years prior.
October 2014: He was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison for accepting bribes totaling more than $50,000 while in elected office.
December 2014: Cannon sells his share of E-Z Parking, which he’d founded, but the company was not implicated in the federal government’s case against the former mayor.
Sept. 14, 2016: Cannon was released from prison, after having served about half of his sentence.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 9:51 AM.
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